LEGISLATIVE BUDGETS POSITIVE FOR NEW YORK TRANSIT SYSTEMS AND STATEWIDE INFRASTRUCTURE

ALBANY, NY (03/11/2015)(readMedia)-- For immediate release

ALBANY, NY - The New York Public Transit Association (NYPTA) applauds the efforts of the Senate and Assembly to address years of inadequate state aid to public transit systems throughout New York in each of their one-house budget proposals.

State operating aid has not kept pace with the growth in demand or federal aid. Transit systems also have aging infrastructures that need replacement. Transit ridership is growing across the state, but without an increase in state aid, transit systems will be faced with difficult decisions of reducing service or raising fares. With ridership on the upswing throughout the state, service should be increasing not decreasing. To address this alarming trend, both the Senate and Assembly have proposed increasing operating and capital funding to upstate and downstate transit systems.

"The budget proposals presented this week by the Legislature would provide a much needed lifeline to public transit and begin to address the backlog of infrastructure needs. NYPTA commends Majority Leader Dean Skelos, Speaker Carl Heastie , Finance Chair John DeFrancisco, Ways and Means Chair Denny Farrell, Senator Joseph Robach and Assemblymembers David Gantt and Jim Brennan for showing the leadership and commitment to invest so much in New York's public transit network and its 8 million daily riders," said Carm Basile, NYPTA President.

"Needs of individual transit operators vary with respect to capital and operating assistance, and we look forward to continuing to work with the Legislature and the Executive to ensure that all systems receive the necessary aid in the final negotiated budget," added Basile.

The New York Public Transit Association, Inc. (NYPTA) is a not-for-profit association representing more than 40 transit systems across New York State including the MTA, the largest public transportation systems in the nation, the four upstate authorities, downstate systems outside of the MTA, and the transportation systems that serve rural upstate New York communities.

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Carm Basile

President, New York Public Transit Association

CEO, Capital District Transportation Authority

carm@cdta.org

(518) 437-6840